Universal tubing fitting



Feb. 17, 1942. N, Y' 2,273,395.

UNIVERSAL TUBING FITTING Filed Jan. 51, 1941 INVENTOR' Aarliazz Mdouig 1ATTORNE Patented Feb. 17, 1942 FFICE UNIVERSAL TUBING FITTING Norman M.Conty, Detroit, Mich assignor to The Flex-O-Tube Company, a corporationof Delaware Application January at, 1941, Serial No. 376,736

2 Claim.

This invention relates to flexible connections for tubing and inparticular to means for providing non-rigid pressure tight connectionsbetween relatively rigid tubing and the like.

This application for patent is a continuation in part of a previousapplication by the same inventor filed May 1, 1939, Serial No. 271,048,which has matured into Patent No. 2,236,967 dated April 1, 1941.

In automotive, aircraft, and other types of power plant installations itis necessary to employ tubing and the like for the purpose of conveyingfuels, lubricant and coolant from tanks, reservoirs and coolers to thepower plant and between the various component elements of the powerplant. Severe and continuous vibrational movement generally existsbetween the various component elements and units of power plants.Flexible tubing or more or less rigid tubing with which non-rigidconnections are generally employed are used to connect the various unitsof w the fuel, lubricating and cooling systems of automotive, aircraftand marine power plants and in other instances" where vibration islikely to cause structural and hydraulic failures of lines employed tocarry fluids. When semi-rigid tubing or rigid tubing is employed,a'suitable flexible connection is required to prevent structural andhydraulic failure of the tubing at the connecting means. g

The main object of this invention is to provide a highly efficientnon-rigid connection for relatively rigid tubing and the like employedto connect together the members of a hydraulic system which will permitvibrational motion therebetween without structural or hydraulic failure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a non-rigid connectionbetween relatively rigid tnbing and the like which is extremely simplein construction, which will resist and absorb vibration withoutstructural failure, and which affords a permanent and positivefluid-tight seal.

Another object of the invention is to provideia non-rigid connection forrelatively rigid tubing and the like which will permit the said tubingto vibrate freely without'danger of crystallization and rupture, and, atthe same time, assure a permanent and positive fluid-tight seal. 1

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference tothefollowing detailed description taken in connection with-theaccompanying. drawing, in which:'

Fig. 1 is an exploded sectional view of a flexlble connection for tubingembodying the invention. v p I Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the flexible tubing connection disclosed in-Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flexible tubingconnection disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 showing the tubing in an extremeflexed position.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, the illustrative emlltherethrough terminating in an axially disposed frusto-sphericalcounterbore A formed in the enlarged externally threaded end I! of thesaid male pipe fitting Ill. The frusto-spherical counter-bore A isformed smooth and cooperates with a frusto-spherical counterbore Bformed within an internally threaded nut l3 having a bore I through theouter end thereof to form a" spherical socket A-B. The inside of thevi'rusto-spherical counterbore B of the nut I8 is preferably knurled orotherwise deformed as indicated by the numeral lit in the drawing forthe purpose hereinafter described.

A relatively stifl yet resilient annular washer ll of rubber, neoprene,duprene or the like is formed to a shape such as indicated in Fig. 1with an internal diameter approximately the same and preferably slightlyless than the external diameter of the flared tubing l6 and slightlylonger than the total length of the distance from the flared end ll oftheflared tubing It to the inner edgeof the bore ll of the internallythreaded nut l3 when-assembledas indicated in Fig. 2. The outer diameterof the said annular washer is preferably approximately the same orslightly larger than the greatest diameter of the irusto-.-

spherical counter-bores A and B of the fitting II and nut IIrespectively. V

The annular washer II is first telescoped over bodiment of theinventiondisclosed in the drawthe flared tube It and urged against the'ilareI'lexternally threaded end I2 of the fitting l0 compresses the annularwasher I5 to the position indicated in Fig. 2, the portion of the outersurface connection between a flared tube l6 and a pipe fitting l0 havinga nut l3 thereon which cooperates with the fitting II] to make aspherical socket A-B into which a washer .l5 serves as a ball, all topermit the flared tube 5 to flex and vibrate with universal movementwith respect to the pipe fitting l0. When the said flared tube It flexeswith respect to the pipe fitting ID as indicated in Fig. 3, the innerend of the annular washer l5 compresses and expands while the outer endthereof opposite the knurled portion B of the spherical socket A-B isimmovable. This prevents the outer end of the annular washer l5 fromworking itself out through the bore I4 of the nut I3 between the saidnut l3 and the flared tube I6 during the universal flexing or vibrationof ,the fiared tube IS with respect to the fitting l0.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed anddescribed in detail, it will be understood that various changesincluding the size, shape, arrangement and detail of the parts thereofmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and itis not intended to limit the scope of the invention other than by theterms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A flexible connection for flared end tubing comprising a couplingmember and nut each bored and semi-spherically counterbored to form whenthreaded together a spherical socket which accommodates the flared endof a flared end tubing,

and a resilient annular washer telescoped over said tubing pressedwithin said spherical socket in sealed relationship between the flaredend of said tubing and said socket forming a resilient ball member whichprovides for flexing of the said tubing with respect to the saidcoupling member.

2. A flexible connection for flared end tubing comprising a couplingmemberv and nut each bored ,and semi-spherically counterbored to formwhen threaded together a spherical socket which accommodates the flaredend of a flared end tubing, and a resilient annular washer telescopedover said tubing pressed within said spherical socket in sealedrelationship between the flared end of said tubing and said socketforming a resilient ball member which providesfor flexing of the saidtubing with respect to the said coupling member, the surface of the saidsemi-spherically counterbored portion of the said nut being roughened toprevent sliding of the said washer I with respect to the said nut duringthe flexing of the said tubing.

NORMAN M. COUTY.

